William Turnbull. Born January 11, 1922. Died November 15, 2012. Aged 90

William Turnbull. Born January 11, 1922. Died November 15, 2012. Aged 90

SCOTTISH artist William Turnbull mastered sculpture and painting with equal refinement and was revered by gallery directors, collectors and international artists alike. Yet he never gained the recognition in Britain that many people believe he deserved.

William Turnbull’s works are known for blending modernism with archaic and primitive forms []

This was more than likely due to his refusal to take part in the power games that fuel the art world.

As his son Alex acknowledged: “He told so many people where to go. In terms of art politicking, he smashed through it, he just didn’t care. Bill was the original punk, a rebel with a cause.”

Turnbull’s works, known for blending modernism with archaic and primitive forms, have featured in galleries across the globe, most notably at the Institute of Contemporary Arts, the British Pavilion at the Venice Biennale and at the Tate and Serpentine galleries.

The son of a Dundee shipyard engineer he left school at 15 and worked as a labourer to help support his family, attending art classes in the evening. He honed his natural talent for drawing by painting film posters at publisher DC Thomson.

His intention was to go to the Slade in London, Britain’s finest art school, but the Second World War broke out and he became a pilot with the RAF in 1941, serving in Canada, India and Ceylon.

He told so many people where to go. In terms of art politicking, he smashed through it

William Turnbull's son Alex

In 1946 he enrolled at Slade, focusing on sculpture, and two years later moved to Paris where he was introduced to fellow sculptors Alberto Giacometti and Constantin Brancusi.

After returning to London in 1950 he enjoyed his first major exhibition at the Hanover Gallery but critical success did not automatically equal financial gain.

In 1952 he was included in the Young Sculptors exhibition at the Institute of Contemporary Arts and by the mid-Fifties he had moved away from his linear approach and made his first standing ﬁgure.

A series of simple shapes suggesting totem poles and ancient masks followed in the Sixties.

After his 1973 retrospective exhibition at the Tate Gallery Turnbull moved away from steel and more modular sculptures and returned to the moulded, textured work of his early career.

He is survived by his sons Alex and Johnny. His wife Kim Lim passed away in 1997.